Ranji Trophy 2023-24: Pacers run riot to place Bengal in management towards Bihar on Day 1

Seamers Mukesh Kumar and Suraj Jaiswal took 4 wickets apiece to supply Bengal with an higher hand on the opening day of its ultimate Ranji Trophy Group B match on the Eden Gardens on Friday.

Determined to provide its skipper Manoj Tiwary a deserving farewell, the host rode on Mukesh and Jaiswal’s dominating performances to bundle out Bihar, which was requested to bat, for a paltry 95 within the first innings.

Led by opener Abhimanyu Easwaran’s unbeaten 48 (69b, 6×4), Bengal was at 111 for 2, with a 16-run lead, at Stumps.

On a greenish observe, Bengal pacers have been too good for the Bihar batters. Jaiswal drew first blood by trapping Piyush Singh lbw within the second over.

Mangal Mahrour and Rishav Raj held fort for a while earlier than first-change bowler Mohammad Kaif had the previous caught behind within the thirteenth over.

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Returning from India obligation, Mukesh made additional inroads as he bowled Bipin Saurabh within the subsequent over. He bowled a very good line to scalp a affected person Rishav, Sakibul Gani and Veer Pratap Singh in a miserly efficiency.

The promising Jaiswal received some assist from the deck to choose up three extra wickets as Bengal wrapped up Bihar’s first innings within the post-lunch session.

The Bengal opening duo of Abhimanyu and left-handed debutant Shakir Habib Gandhi added 35 runs earlier than Veer, bowling around the wicket, spectacularly uprooted Gandhi’s off-stump.

Abhimanyu, who executed some pretty drives to the boundary, gathered 57 with Karan Lal and confirmed his intent to construct one other partnership with Anustup Majumdar.